Hormathia coronata (Gosse, 1858)

Hormathia coronata

Description: Base adherent; column divided into scapus and scapulus, scapus with cuticle and more or less conspicuous solid tubercles, scapulus with low longitudinal ridges. Tentacles arranged in multiples of six. Acontia present, emitted through mouth only. Column reddish or brown with dark tubercles, ridges on scapulus pale, with twelve dark patches between them. Disc reddish or buff, usually with a delicate pattern, often with thin white lines radiating from the centre. Throat red or buff. Diameter of base up to 30mm, height to 50mm. Reproduces by viviparity.

Habitat: Often on shells, worm-tubes, stones and silt covered bedrock; exclusively sublittoral in occurrence from about 5-100m.

Distribution: Frequent on south and west coasts of the British Isles, north to the Isle of Man; around southwest Europe and in the Mediterranean.